Key facts
- Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips has criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
- Phillips stated that her requests for a meeting with Starmer have been ignored.
- She called for a public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein's activities and those who enabled him.
- Starmer previously apologized to Epstein's survivors but Phillips deemed it insufficient.
- Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Prime Minister, offered to arrange a meeting with Phillips.
- Peter Mandelson is under police investigation for alleged misconduct in public office related to his ties with Epstein.
Lisa Phillips, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, has strongly criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as the US ambassador, highlighting Mandelson's known association with Epstein. Phillips, who was trafficked for years after being assaulted by Epstein at age 21, stated that her requests to meet with the Prime Minister have been consistently ignored.
In a statement read in the House of Commons by former victims minister Alex Davies-Jones, Phillips challenged Starmer to agree to a public inquiry into Epstein's activities and those who allegedly enabled or protected them. She expressed difficulty understanding Mandelson's appointment given his publicly known ties to Epstein, raising questions about whether lessons from the scandal have been learned.
Starmer had previously issued a general apology to Epstein's survivors in February, expressing regret for their suffering and for believing Mandelson's "lies." However, Phillips dismissed this apology as lacking meaningful action without concrete steps.
Downing Street confirmed that Starmer uses disappearing messages on his phone, a practice that has drawn criticism regarding transparency, particularly concerning communications with Mandelson. Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's chief of staff, resigned over the appointment, taking responsibility for advising the Prime Minister to make the decision.
Peter Mandelson is currently facing a police investigation related to alleged misconduct in public office offenses, stemming from his connections with Epstein. Police have searched Mandelson's homes as part of this ongoing inquiry. Meanwhile, Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Prime Minister, has offered to arrange a meeting between Phillips and ministers.